tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5598883894140893389.post4167681904247390396..comments2024-01-02T22:01:12.976+00:00Comments on Avedon's Sideshow: The crowd called out for moreAvedonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04702100335744054401noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5598883894140893389.post-58208949985894025632014-11-11T04:00:38.327+00:002014-11-11T04:00:38.327+00:00Thanks for alerting me to this. Like Taibbi, Stoll...Thanks for alerting me to this. Like Taibbi, Stoller rarely disappoints. Ideology may start out pure as the untrampled snow but once the $ signs start popping up it's corrupted, inevitably and irreparably. Now if there were mechanisms in place to prevent such funding and profiteering, before during and after pols served. A bottom up untainted ideology competing for hearts and minds--that still strikes me as a longshot but the long, arduous legwork, the good fight is necessary in any event. When not if the next major crisis comes along, we damn sure better have the infrastructure for a movement in place--if not there will certainly be some other rather terrifying movements prepared to fill the void. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5598883894140893389.post-46448403125124519632014-11-10T16:27:43.346+00:002014-11-10T16:27:43.346+00:00Great short history of the New Dems by Matt Stolle...Great short history of the New Dems by Matt Stoller at <a href="http://www.nakedcapitalism.com/2014/11/matt-stoller-democratic-party-acts-way.html" rel="nofollow">Naked Capitalism</a>.<br /><br />As ideologues:<br /><br /><i>If you want to know why the Democratic Party behaves the way it does, recognize that behind its habits, customs, beliefs, and culture are organizers with strong beliefs, a rich history, and ideas. We’re just starting to learn the history of that period when the party really changed. What’s fascinating is how the anti-Vietnam and Civil Rights movements, commonly seen as exertions of left-wing political power, turned into the modern Democratic Party elite of bankers, venture capitalists, and technology entrepreneurs talking about the need for revolutionary and disruptive change. And they got their revolution.</i><br /><br />And opportunists:<br /><br /><i>After deferring the decision of whether to chair the DLC, [Bill Clinton] finally told From, “If I don’t run for reelection, then I’m going to have to make at least $100,000 a year.” From offered to pay it, and the deal was done. Personal wealth, and the opportunity cost of politics, was apparently never far from his mind.</i><br /><br />And the prognosis:<br /><br /><i>This is a country governed at a local and legislative level by deep conservatives. But if you expect changes in philosophy and behavior due to these losses, you’re going to have to do what Al From did. Which is, organize. And don’t just organize to put Democrats in power, organize around ideas the way that Al From did. From’s ideas were incredibly consequential, and they are today the basis for how the West is run.</i>ksixhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15406854618914127269noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5598883894140893389.post-44158566012666035702014-11-10T16:11:20.516+00:002014-11-10T16:11:20.516+00:00And Taibbi doesn't disappoint!And Taibbi doesn't disappoint!ksixhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15406854618914127269noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5598883894140893389.post-18026771787880992402014-11-05T04:29:55.489+00:002014-11-05T04:29:55.489+00:00I'd be down with such a run only if they were ...I'd be down with such a run only if they were all in and by that I mean on a mission from god to destroy the Clinton/Obama neoliberal leadership of the party. Warren and Sanders both look far too docile, and complimentary to Hillary, to do that. If it's just an exercise in consciousness raising, it's a waste of time. Precious time considering we've just wasted 8 years with a dem in the White House and none of the pressing issues of the day have been addressed. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5598883894140893389.post-60272870125582971012014-11-05T04:23:52.202+00:002014-11-05T04:23:52.202+00:00Liz Warren seems to have opened a revolving door b...Liz Warren seems to have opened a revolving door back to the Sideshow. <br /><br />Bummer about Taibbi though I'll be just as happy to read his stuff again at RS. <br /><br />As loathsome as the dems have been, the results are nonetheless bleak. If only the leadership were forced to wander in the wilderness for the next two years and by this I mean the reality the rest of us have been facing for far too long, then maybe we could expect something better in 2016. As it stands, I don't know anyone can feel hopeful. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5598883894140893389.post-45420853475026529912014-11-04T19:19:44.313+00:002014-11-04T19:19:44.313+00:00I want either Elizabeth Warren or Sherrod Brown to...I want either Elizabeth Warren or Sherrod Brown to run. I guess Bernie will do it if one of them doesn't, but given he isn't a Democrat, it won't have the same impact.<br /><br />Somebody has to make the corporatist answer some questions before getting the nomination.<br />~ifthethunderdontgetya™³²®©https://www.blogger.com/profile/06252371815131259831noreply@blogger.com